NFL Playoffs Scenarios: 10 Ways the San Diego Chargers Can Win the AFC West

With the conclusion of the 2010 regular season just two weeks away the San Diego Chargers are looking to collect their fifth straight AFC West division title, however it might not be as easy as most Chargers fans would like.

The Chargers have once again battled back after another patented "slow-start" under head coach Norv Turner, and found a way to throw their hat back into the playoff race.

The Kansas City Chiefs currently hold a one game lead over the Chargers with two games to play. The Bolts have the easier schedule between the two teams, but anything can happen on any given Sunday.

Let's take a look at the scenarios the Chargers face to get to the postseason and what it will take to get them there.

Scenario #1

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SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 16: Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers throws a pass against the San Francisco 49ers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 16, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

The San Diego Chargers need to win both of their remaining two games to finish the season at 10-6, and need the Kansas City Chiefs to lose at least one of their final two games in order to claim their fifth straight AFC West crown.

Scenario #2

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SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 16: Running back Ryan Mathews #24 of the San Diego Chargers rushes with the ball against the San Francisco 49ers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 16, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The San Diego Chargers need to win both of their remaining two games to finish the season 10-6, and need the Baltimore Ravens to lose both of their final two games to finish at 10-6.

San Diego would then clinch a Wild Card seed based on strength of victory.

or

The San Diego Chargers need to win both of their remaining two games to finish the season 10-6, and need the New York Jets to lose both of their final two games to finish at 10-6.

San Diego would then clinch a Wild Card seed based on strength of victory.

Dec. 16, San Francisco 48ers 7, San Diego Chargers 34

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SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 16: Wide receiver Vincent Jackson #83 of the San Diego Chargers dives into the endzone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 16, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Pho

With their backs against the walls and playoff hopes on the line, the San Diego Chargers came out swinging against the San Francisco 49ers on the Thursday night.

The Bolts held the Niners to just seven points when all was said and done. Narrowing any chance the 49ers had of making the postseason.

San Diego continued the aerial assault that has continued to allow them to be contenders for the playoffs. Philip Rivers connected with former Pro Bowl wide receiver Vincent Jackson three times all for touchdowns, it what would

Dec. 26 @ Cincinnati Bengals

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CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 19: Cedric Benson #32 of the Cincinnati Bengals carries the ball against the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

The Cardiac Cats have stopped the bleeding temporarily in Cincinnati after beating the Cleveland Browns 19-17 on Sunday, however the outlook on a possible resurrection continues to look grim.

In order to stay alive for a possible fifth-straight AFC West title, the San Diego Chargers will need to prevail in the land of T.O. and Ochocinco.

While this should be any easy game for the Bolts, San Diego needs to continue to play with the same tenacity we saw against Kansas City and San Francisco. Stopping Cedric Benson, pressuring Carson Palmer, and shutting down Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco

Chargers fans will be keeping their eyes on several other games as well, hoping for Kansas City, Baltimore, and the New York Jets to pick up losses.

Jan. 2 @ Denver Broncos

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OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 19: Tim Tebow #15 of the Denver Broncos throws the ball during their game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 19, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos wonder boy head coach Josh McDaniels has been run out of town, and the quarterbacking reigns have been handed over to a Heisman Trophy winning rookie, who's first NFL start came against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

The Chargers will travel to the mile high air of Invesco Field to close out their 2010 regular season campaign.

Should the Bolts finish the season on a high note, and be the winners of four straight games it could potentially set the Chargers up for their fifth straight AFC West crown.

The Broncos won't make the task easy and are guaranteed to put up a fight. With Denver dwelling the AFC West cellar, the Chargers may get their first look at way will be the future of the Broncos offense, with rookie Tim Tebow likely getting the start.

Kansas City Chiefs

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SAN DIEGO - DECEMBER 12: Quarterback Brodie Croyle #12 of the Kansas City Chiefs throws a pass under pressue from linebacker Antwan Barnes #98 of the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 12, 2010 in San Diego, California. The Chargers won

With the Kansas City Chiefs still holding a one game lead in the AFC West, the San Diego Chargers will be relying on the help of other teams to keep the Chargers postseason dreams alive.

The St. Louis Rams weren't much help to the Chargers. San Diego was looking for a St. Louis win to bring Kansas City into a tie for first in the AFC West, unfortunately the Chiefs were too much for the Rams to handle.

Kansas City, who has yet to lose at home, will welcome the Tennessee Titans on Dec. 26 and the Oakland Raiders on Jan. 2 to the loudest stadium in the NFL,

While either the Titans or Raiders could potentially spell disaster for the Chiefs postseason hopes and help vault the Chargers into the playoffs, they will have to overcome the deafening noise of Arrowhead Stadium.

Oakland Raiders

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OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 19: Darren McFadden #20 of the Oakland Raiders runs with the ball during their game against the Denver Broncos at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 19, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The San Diego Chargers will be looking to their AFC West nemesis the Oakland Raiders for a little help on the last weekend of the regular season.

Should the Chargers win both of their final two games, San Diego would need Oakland to beat Kansas City in order to win the AFC West, that is if the Chiefs haven't already lost to Tennessee the week before.

The Raiders do have a very slim chance at making the postseason should the Chiefs lose both of their final two games and (god forbid) the Chargers lose both of their games, the Raiders would win the AFC West with a perfect 6-0 inter-division record.

Wild Card: Baltimore Ravens

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 19: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens looks for a receiver during the game against the New Orleans Saints at M&T Bank Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Saints 30-24. (Photo by Larry

The Chargers could have greatly benefited from the New Orleans Saints beating the Baltimore Ravens, unfortunately that didn't happen.

If the Chargers win their final two games and the Ravens lose both of their final two games, San Diego would be able to pick up the Ravens wild card seed based on strength of victory.

Of course this all hinges on what the New York Jets do in their final two games as well.

Wild Card: New York Jets

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 21: LaDainian Tomlinson #21 of the New York Jets runs against the Houston Texans on November 21, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

San Diego will be watching the Wild Card race closely. Should the New York Jets have a late season meltdown and collapse coming down the stretch, the Chargers will be ready to pounce.

If the Jets lose their final two games and the Chargers win their final two games, the Bolts will be looking at the Wild Card based on strength of victory.

The Wild Card could prove to be difficult though. The Jets travel to Chicago to face the Bears, and finish the season home at the Meadowlands hosting the Buffalo Bills.

Down The Stretch

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SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 16: Safety Steve Gregory #28 of the San Diego Chargers intercepts a pass by quarterback Alex Smith of the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter at Qualcomm Stadium on December 16, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Har

We have looked at every possible angle and situation for what it will take the San Diego Chargers to win their fifth straight AFC West division title. The Chargers know what they need to do.Now all we can do is sit back and watch what should be an interesting two weeks of football.